The Austin Magic Pistol is one of the most unique toy rayguns ever designed. Made in the
1950s by Austin Manufacturing Co. of Port Austin, Michigan, the Magic Pistol shoots hard plastic balls which are
propelled by an explosion of gas. The gas is produced in the chamber at the back of
the barrel by mixing water and a white powder supplied with the gun. This
mixture is ignited by a spark when the trigger is pulled. Sporting three
flamboyant Buck Rogers-like fins toward the front of its chunky barrel and painted
bright red and yellow, the Magic Pistol also has a strong visual presence. Recently,
a version of this gun has been found with a large decal which says "Dog Trainer" and has a picture of a hunter
and a hunting dog. Could this toy actually be a device used to train hunting dogs? If so, perhaps it is a spacedog training gun? |